Cookies are easy to assemble, not requiring the extra care that cakes need, and they bake so fast. So sharing a very easy, basic and simple cookie recipe that you can easily make and modify by adding anything you like or is available. I love chocolate and though the basic recipe didn’t call for it to be added, I did to satisfy my chocolate tooth. You can experiment with things such as crushed nuts, coconut flakes, oats and just about anything!

The cookies are soft and chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside — just as they should be.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, unsalted

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 egg

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 11/2 cup flour

• 11/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

For cinnamon sugar topping

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder

Method:

Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.

In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla extract and mix until just combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon powder, baking powder. Add this dry mixture into the wet mixture and mix with a spoon or spatula, until just combined. The dough will be a little soft at this point so you can leave it in the fridge for half-an-hour or 15 minutes in the freezer to become firm and easy to handle.

Line a baking tray with parchment or baking paper. Take a spoonful of the cookie mixture and roll it into a ball between the palms of your hands. Now gently press it to form a cookie. A very thin cookie will give you a crispy cookie on baking and a little thick one will be chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside when baked. So give it the shape that you prefer eating.

In a small bowl, mix half cup sugar and half teaspoon cinnamon powder. Dip the cookie balls in this, put a few chocolate chips on top and line on the tray, keeping a suitable distance as the cookies will be at least twice their size when baked.

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cookies are golden brown on the edges and the sides are firm. The centre will be very soft so don’t touch it or the shape will spoil (as one did in my case). Take out and let it rest on the tray for a good 10-15 minutes until cool, you can enjoy it right away or store it in an airtight jar at room temperature and enjoy for days!

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2019*